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Career Exploration

Curators

Also called: Collections Curator, Collections Manager, Curator, Museum Curator

What they do:

Administer collections, such as artwork, collectibles, historic items, or scientific specimens of museums or other institutions. May conduct instructional, research, or public service activities of institution.

On the job, you would:
  • Plan and organize the acquisition, storage, and exhibition of collections and related materials, including the selection of exhibition themes and designs, and develop or install exhibit materials.
  • Develop and maintain an institution's registration, cataloging, and basic record-keeping systems, using computer databases.
  • Plan and conduct special research projects in area of interest or expertise.
On the job, you'll need:

Arts and Humanities

  • English language
  • history and archeology

Business

  • management
  • administrative services

Math and Science

  • sociology and anthropology
  • geography

Communications

  • multimedia

Basic Skills

  • reading work related information
  • talking to others

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

People and Technology Systems

  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • use rules to solve problems
  • group things in different ways

Conventional

People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.

  • Attention to Detail
  • Initiative
  • Integrity
  • Dependability
  • Cooperation
  • Leadership

Data base user interface and query software

  • Database software
  • Microsoft Access

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Graphics or photo imaging software

  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe Photoshop

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Bright.

New job opportunities are very likely in the future. This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.

Median Annual Salary: $60,380

Education

Master's degree or doctoral degree is usually needed.